Clouds in My Coffee

I have a story to tell...
>long post today<

I have refrained from writing about this until now because I have been really bothered by the situation. But, here's the story...

On Tuesday this week, I went to work at 4:00 in the afternoon just like any normal day. (as most of you know, I am a dispatcher for our local police department) Upon my arrival to work, I was informed that we'd had a kidnapping in our city the previous day. A very beautiful two year old little girl was abducted by her own babysitters. Her mother came into the police department the night before in a panic. The officers took the report and a massive search was launched. The next afternoon (the day I came into work), the local news stations aired the story on the 5:00 news...just one hour after my arrival to work. Within minutes, the phone lines were lighting up from people calling in leads and sightings of the little girl. To my surprise, one of the leads that I took over the phone and handed to an officer to check out was the lead that would take us straight to the little girl, Amber. The sweet little girl was returned to her expectant mother unharmed.

Some of you may be familiar with an abduction that happened in our town back in 1995. Morgan Nick was abducted from our hometown from a baseball field and has yet to be returned home. Her family has searched endlessly and still have not given up hope. Needless to say, we are all very relieved that little Amber is back home and safe and sound.

Why do I write this, you might ask? I was very pleased at the response of the citizens of our town and how everyone pulled together to bring this little girl home. In times such as these with the war and the economy being the way it is, Americans are still caring people. It amazes me the way people pull together in times of need. Who says America is falling apart??? Who says Americans aren't strong??? It is Americans with heart and Americans with pride in their hometowns, their states, their country, that returns missing children home to their parents within a matter of hours.

Another reason I am writing about this is because of my own children. Working with everyone at the police department really made me sit back and think about the good things in life and what we take for granted. I know that I am probably guilty of heading home from work each day assuming that my children are always going to be there waiting for me. Who knows if tomorrow will ever come? So I write this to you today to remind you to hug your children, tell them you love them, do something fun with them, read a book together...just spend a little extra time with them!

I hope that you all don't think I am preaching at you, I am just speaking my thoughts. I was really upset by the kidnapping the other day and it has really made me think about things. I hope you are all enjoying your weekend. I am off to visit my reads. Thank you all for being such wonderful friends and visiting each day.
=hugs=